Claudia Mandel Katz

Function at IAWM: Board member of IAWM

Biography: I graduated as an art historian from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 2002 I emigrated with my family to Costa Rica, where I continued my studies at the University of Costa Rica: Masters in Art, a PhD in Cultural Studies and a PhD in History, while working as a Professor at the Faculty of Philosophy at the same University. My research has given me a great opportunity to establish contact with feminist artists in Costa Rica and in Latin America. My purpose was to make these artist’s works visible, so I decided to found a Virtual Women’s Museum to exhibit them.

Museum: On the board of IAWM, I represent the Women’s Museum in Costa Rica. Our museum was founded in 2009. The Women’s Museum of Costa Rica cooperates with cultural institutions and women associations both at a local, regional and national level. We consider the museum not only as a place to look at, but as a place to experience, to discuss in workshops and meetings. We concentrate in topics such as stereotypes and female identity, discrimination and violence against women and we work with various communities in Costa Rica. Also, we participate and support International Cooperation Projects.

Since 2015 the Museum of Women of Costa Rica coordinates with the University of Costa Rica the project Women in the Patriarchal Society. This is a proposal that seeks to permeate the consciousness of various social groups in favor of the value of women in society. This is an initiative of the Museum of Women, which gets to work through students of the School of Philosophy at the University of Costa Rica.

Why am I working at IAWM?

I work on the board of IAWM, because I believe that this association is essential to generate networks, for mutual support where all museums can work together and promote the art, history and culture of women.

I believe that the Women’s Museums must challenge patriarchal norms and fight for gender equality, against all forms of discrimination and to prevent violence against women. On the other hand, I am convinced of the importance of IAWM as the space that allows to obtain a greater knowledge at the local, regional and international level of the museums of women.